to, Sean 2009 Journal Nov. 13 Las Nigas, Nayarit, Mexico Left Mexias City at 5AM and drove to Perote. Took MX/140 to Las Nigas. Missed road to Las Lajas microwave station and drove up a smaller road E of Las Nigas (leads to Volcanillo, which I think is a cave) and parked in village of Alto San Francisco, where road became impassible for my Chevy Gipsy. Walk to microwave station (~1hr) through regenerating pine forest. The forest around the towers is in better shape, although still somewhat disturbed. Mostly pine with a lot of oak in some areas, some madrone and understory of bunchgrass. Conditions were somewhat dry but stumps and logs were wet inside and underneath, and leaf litter was fairly damp. Searched under the few logs I found, under bark of stumps and under rocks from 12:00-14:45. Found only 2 Pseudoeurycea leprosa, one adult + 1 juv., under a rotting cardboard tube near the microwave station. The conditions seemed OK, and I was surprised not to find more salamanders. I did see an Egeria, a Xyphomorphus (I think, escaped in grass), a Pituophis and a Thryssoma. Walked/drove back to Las Nigas and took road to Villa Alegre. Went 4.5km along road and stopped in pine forest - only trees were yellow pine with bunchgrass covering the ground. Searched from 16:45 - 17:45 under rocks, in bark of stumps + under clumps of dead grass. Didn't find any logs - probably all used for firewood. P. leprosa seemed quite common - I found [illegible] under rocks, 3 under dead clumps of bunchgrass and 1 tiny juvenile under a small piece of bark beside a stump. It got dark and I drove to Xalapa to spend the night. Mistake - tons of traffic on road. The day was mostly clear but fairly cold - maybe 16-17°C at microwave station.